The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1887-09-04
Lively Times in the Board of
Equalization.
DO THE POOR PAY THE TAXES.
Investigating the Assessment of Mer-
chants and Bankers-Some In
Ieresting Facts Developed


the reduction of assessments. This year
its sessions are characterized by spirit
that seems to soar in the opposite d.
rection, and some of our wealthy citi =
zens have been INVITED to appear and
show cause why their assessments
should not be increased.
The law under which the board de-
rives its authority to indulge in this
novel but exciting pastime, reads as fol-
lows:
1.-The City Council shall constitute a
board OF equalization, and shall have
power to determine all complaints
made in regard to the assessed
value OF any property, and may
change and correct any valuation,
either by adding thereto or dedHcting
therefrom. and if the board of equallza-
ton shall find it necessary to add to the
assessed valuation of any property on
the assessment roll, they shall direct the
recorder to give notice to the persons
interested, by letter, postage prepaid,
deposited in the postoffice, or 6ther-
wise, naming the day when they shall
act in that case and allowing reason
able time for such party to appear"
| An unusual buzz of excitement on the
street yesterday among merchants who
had been served with q notice to appear
before that august tribunal and some
who had not, but who looked very much
like a man whose neighbor had been
struck by lightning, caused our reporter
to make some inquiry into the matter;
and by a process of "worming" among
aldermen, councillors and other city Off
Gals, he elected the following fact:
| On Friday evening representatives OF
the banking houses of T. r. Jones q
Co., Wells, Fargo & Co. and W. S. McCor-
nick & Co., all of whom had been invited
to the tax raising" reception as guests,
were present and submitted arguments
against the proposition to increase
tn 1T assessments. The Board took no
action in the premises, the whole matter
being deferred for future consideration.
1t appears that the action of the DO ard
in attempting to equalize the assess
ments of the banks, originated from
comparison of the assessments of the
two national banks in the city, viz: the
Deseret National and the Union
National, with those of the private
banks; and it was found that the
national banks were assessed greatly in
excess of the others. The assessor
being questioned as to the reason for
the discrimination, stated that the
national banks were required by law to
publish sworn statements of the amount
of their capital, assets, liabilities, in
crease, etc., from which it was an easy
matter to arrive at the assessment,
while private banks, publishing no such
statements, simply gave in the amount
of their assessments, and he was
obliged to accept it. The discussion
of the subject the other evening it is
understood, developed some impoteuc"
in the local laws which the Legislature
will in all probability be petitioned to
cure, but as the session six months
hence" will have no material effect on
the problem of to-day, it is thought lit
tie change can be made in the assess
ments, so far as the bankers are con-
cerned.
The board next directed its attention
to the merchants and discovered what
it deemed gross inequality in assess
ments for merchandise, some of them
being quite in keeping with consistency,
while others, as one member remarked, ;,
were "atrociously low" Nor were the
preferences shown to any particular
class of citizens, as the Tribune has so
frequently and scurrilously insinuated;
but the board deemed that there was
inequality, first, as between the msr-
chants themselves, and second as COM
pared with assessments of other prop
erty, and particularly the dwell
lings of the middle classes and
, the poor. A sharp contrast was drawn
by several of the board between the
assessment levied upon the poor widow
who was unable to conceal from the
, argus eye of the assessor her hum BILE
dwelling and perhaps one COW, and that
of the capitalist whose wealth was all in
stocks and bonds and invisible securi-
ties, which were hidden fathoms deep
. at tax time. A feature which caused no
2 end of merriment and was an unanswer-
able argument to the claims of some of
/ the merchants who were present, was
the off.hand manner in which one of
the members would turn the leaves of
/ Bradstreet's, buns and other rating
J registers, compare them with the CITY
/ assessment roll and then coolly invite
the distracted merchant to account for
the discrepancy.
That's easily DONE" said one of the
board. "In the one instance a man is
interested in making the figures as large
: as possible, and in the other in making
; them as small as possible. That is how
|, to account for the discrepancy. 1t
|
who makes the Inquiry"
Throughout the entire consideration
there was no reflection cast upon the
assessor, that officer being himself
e pleased at the interest which the board
] is taking in the assessment roll, and the
e board being in a position to compre-
5 bend that the inequality was due di-
rectly to the insufficient statements
submitted to him but which he had no
alternative than to accept. In short the
fac; was potent that the board of equal
}, ization had simply began the exercise OF
q one OF its hitherto dormant functions
t which ii, persisted in, would very ma
terially increase the revenues OF the city.
Following are the names of those in
I vited to be present on Tuesday evening
next, to submit reasons why their as
sessments should not be increased: Lit
g tie & Roundy, g. g. Asmussen, Cohn
Bros, Evans & Spencer, Joslin & Park,
Scott d Co., Groesbeck Brothers, J. X,
: Walker.
And perhaps the end is not yet.
8 SS